Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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18. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 41 of 2 October 2024, the number of applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme received to date; the number refused and the reasons therefor; the number where a notification of a positive determination has been made; the number accepted; of those accepted, the number fully completed; the number of payments made in each category of Schedules 2 and 3 of the 2023 Act; the average time from receipt of application to receipt of payment; if he is satisfied with the way in which the scheme is operating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43208/24]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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24. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many payments have issued under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43558/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 24 together.

As of 21 October, almost 5,300 applications have been received, of which over 4,700 are completed applications which can be processed. In the case of incomplete applications, applicants are being supported by the Payment Scheme Office in order to provide outstanding information so that their application can move forward. This could be, for example, a supporting document such as certified photo ID.

Nearly 3,900 notices of determination have issued, over 82% of which contain an offer of benefits under the Scheme. Applicants have 6 months to consider their offer before they need to respond. Where notices of determination do not provide an offer of benefits, this is due to not meeting the relevant eligibility criteria.

To date, 2,495 applicants have accepted an offer under the Scheme, and more than 2,025 payments are either processed and completed or in the process of being made.

Average processing time, from application receipt to notice of determination, is 70 days and once an award is accepted it takes, on average, 16 days to delivery of payment into an applicant's account.

Overall, we have received positive feedback that applicants are finding the application process straightforward and the information line helpful. We have also received some feedback regarding delays. These may emerge for different reasons. For example, if the Payment Scheme Office has to contact applicants to seek further information, or if there are issues in the verification of application details. In such cases, the Payment Scheme Office engages with the applicant to resolve those difficulties so that applications can be processed as quickly as possible.

I am advised that each and every application is handled on an individual basis to ensure thorough and accurate processing, and depending on the nature of enquiries, the response timeline can vary. Overall, the Payment Scheme Office are constantly working to improve the applicant experience and reduce processing times, taking on board feedback from survivors and other stakeholders, while upholding the integrity of the Scheme through proper and robust validation processes. It is ultimately the aim of the Payment Scheme Office to ensure the correct award amount is paid to the correct applicant in as timely a manner as possible.